UK-France naval coalition deepens militarisation of Strait of Hormuz amid geopolitical tensions, obscuring regional sovereignty disputes and energy market vulnerabilities

Indigenous and local maritime traditions in the Gulf—such as the dhow trade networks of the Arabian Peninsula or the pearl diving cultures of Bahrain and Qatar—emphasise collective stewardship over territorial control. These communities historically resolved disputes through tribal mediation and shared access to fishing grounds, contrasting with the modern state-centric militarisation of the Strait. The erasure of these practices in favour of Western naval solutions reflects a broader pattern of epistemic violence, where indigenous knowledge is dismissed as 'pre-modern' in favour of technocratic security frameworks.

The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint since the 18th century, when British colonial forces established dominance to secure trade routes to India, culminating in the 1856 Anglo-Persian War. The 1956 Suez Crisis demonstrated how Western naval interventions in the region trigger regional backlash, while the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War saw both sides attack tankers, foreshadowing today’s tanker seizures. The 2019 attacks on Saudi oil facilities and the 2021 UAE port explosions reveal a pattern of asymmetric retaliation against perceived Western-backed aggression, rooted in decades of interventionist policies.

In East Asia, the Strait of Malacca—another critical chokepoint—has been managed through ASEAN-led security dialogues and economic interdependence, avoiding militarisation despite piracy risks. African maritime traditions, such as Somalia’s pre-colonial trade networks, prioritise community-based security over foreign naval patrols, offering an alternative to the 'gunboat diplomacy' model. Latin American perspectives, such as Brazil’s 'Blue Amazon' strategy, frame maritime security as an ecological and social issue, integrating indigenous coastal communities into governance—a stark contrast to the Strait of Hormuz’s securitisation.

Satellite data from NASA and ESA confirms that 20-30% of global oil exports transit the Strait daily, with disruptions causing price spikes of up to 20% in past crises (e.g., 2019 attacks). Studies by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that alternative routes, such as the East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia, are insufficient to replace Hormuz capacity, making the Strait a systemic vulnerability in global energy markets. Climate models project that rising temperatures will increase the frequency of extreme weather events in the Strait, exacerbating navigation risks and supply chain disruptions.

In Persian poetry, the Strait of Hormuz is metaphorically linked to the 'Bridge of Judgment' in Ferdowsi’s *Shahnameh*, symbolising both connection and peril. Omani maritime festivals, such as the *Dhow Festival*, celebrate the Strait as a cultural bridge, blending Arab, African, and South Asian traditions. In Sufi thought, the Strait represents the 'narrow path' between material and spiritual worlds, a duality mirrored in its geopolitical role as both a resource and a battleground. Western militarised narratives, by contrast, reduce the Strait to a 'chokepoint' devoid of human or ecological context.

Scenario modelling by the RAND Corporation suggests that a prolonged militarisation of the Strait could lead to a 15-25% increase in global oil prices by 2030, triggering recessions in energy-importing nations. Alternative futures include a 'Green Corridor' model, where littoral states collaborate on renewable energy exports (e.g., UAE’s hydrogen hubs) to reduce oil dependence. The rise of drone warfare and AI-driven maritime surveillance could escalate conflicts, while climate-induced water scarcity may force regional cooperation on desalination and sustainable shipping.

Fisherfolk communities in Iran, Oman, and the UAE bear the brunt of tanker collisions and oil spills but are excluded from security dialogues. Women-led cooperatives in Bahrain and Qatar, which historically managed pearl diving and trade, are sidelined in favour of male-dominated naval and energy sectors. Migrant workers in the Gulf’s shipping industry—often from South Asia—face exploitation and lack access to legal recourse in cases of maritime accidents. The framing also ignores the voices of Iranian reformists and civil society groups advocating for diplomatic solutions over military escalation.